Soaking in the Hot Springs

"Pfft—cough, cough!" Bibi Dong nearly choked on her own saliva. She yanked the towel off her forehead and glared at Ling Yuan.

"Ling Yuan, w-what nonsense are you talking about? That's my teacher!"

"I'm not talking nonsense."

Ling Yuan swam a little closer, her eyes sparkling with gossip. "At dinner on the boat, don't think I didn't see it."

"His Holiness's gaze barely left you."

"You watched the fireworks, and he watched you. You choked on your wine, and he served you food. You took the wrong cup, and not only did he not switch it, he even drank from the spot you'd already used... If that isn't affection, what is?"

"Don't tell me he suddenly had an overflow of fatherly love?"

Bibi Dong's heart fell into turmoil at her words, and her gaze drifted.

Her teacher's behavior lately... had indeed been far more intimate than usual.

Her heart pounded wildly, filled with both delight and a sense of unreality.

"R-really? But... we're teacher and disciple..."

"What's wrong with that?" Ling Yuan shrugged. "In the world of soul masters, there are plenty with bigger age gaps and more complicated seniority."

"The important thing is that His Holiness has become more human now. And he's so... well, considerate."

"And he's so... handsome. Saintess, just give in already, will you?"

As she spoke, she grinned and gently bumped Bibi Dong with her elbow.

"W-who's giving in? Ling Yuan, you're awful."

Embarrassed and annoyed by her teasing, Bibi Dong reached out to tickle Ling Yuan's sides.

"Ah, Saintess, spare me! I'm telling the truth."

Laughing as she dodged, Ling Yuan could not resist splashing water back at her.

"Take this for talking nonsense!"

"Hahaha... Saintess, you're cheating."

The two young women immediately began frolicking in the hot spring, water splashing everywhere.

After playing around for quite a while, they finally stopped, both panting as they leaned against the pool's edge to rest.

Bibi Dong picked up a chilled grape from the wooden tray beside her and popped it into her mouth.

After a moment of silence, she asked, "Ling Yuan, do you think... Teacher really has changed? Changed so much that it doesn't feel real."

"He hasn't just changed. It's like he's become a completely different person."

"The Pope of old was handsome, yes, but he always wore a stern face and felt icy cold. Even from ten feet away, you could feel the chill coming off him. No matter how handsome he was, no one dared entertain improper thoughts."

"But now... not only can he smile, he can shop, buy snacks, and his gaze is so... Tsk. Anyway, I think His Holiness is much better now."

"But..."

"Do you think Teacher might be... testing me somehow?"

"Testing you?" Ling Yuan looked puzzled. "Testing what? Your resistance to flirting? Or whether you'll be swayed by beauty?"

"I don't know either."

Bibi Dong shook her head, wrapping her arms around her knees and resting her chin atop them. "It just feels... too wonderful, like a dream. That makes me uneasy instead."

"Why has Teacher suddenly started treating me so well?"

It was not that she doubted her teacher's intentions. It was simply that this all-encompassing gentleness and care left a girl accustomed to rigorous training and bearing burdens alone somewhat at a loss, afraid it was all nothing more than an illusion.

Seeing her slightly melancholy profile, Ling Yuan put away her teasing expression. She swam over and patted Bibi Dong's shoulder. "All right, my dear Saintess, don't overthink it."

"Maybe His Holiness the Pope simply came to his senses?"

"Maybe he feels he was too harsh on you before and wants to make up for it now?"

"Or maybe he simply thinks you've grown up and that it's time to interact in a different way?"

"Anyway, his personality has improved, and he treats you well. Just happily accept it. Isn't it exhausting to think so much?"

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Mm, you're right. Maybe I'm overthinking it."

She stood up. "Soak a little longer. I'm a bit tired, so I'll head back and rest first."

"Okay. Good night, Saintess."

Bibi Dong stepped out of the hot spring. Her skin, flushed white and pink from the heat and prolonged soaking, gleamed with a healthy, dewy radiance.

She wrapped herself in a dry, soft bath towel, entered the changing room nearby, and changed into a loose, light-purple silk nightgown.

Bibi Dong felt both body and mind relax considerably. She pushed open the door from the changing room to the guest room corridor and walked out.

She had only taken a few steps when she collided head-on with someone approaching from the other direction.

"Teacher?"

When Qian Xunji saw her, his gaze softened. "Finished soaking? How do you feel?"

"Mm, very comfortable. It eased my fatigue."

Bibi Dong nodded, but then her gaze landed on the red stain on the front of his robes.

"Teacher, your clothes... Why does that look like blood?"

Qian Xunji froze. Looking down, he discovered that blood had indeed splashed onto the area near his collar.

"This..."

His mind raced as he considered how to explain it.

He could not exactly say, "Oh, I just went and slaughtered your future lover, did I?"

While he hesitated, Bibi Dong misunderstood.

The relaxed expression on her face was replaced by anxiety. Forgetting all about propriety or shyness, she stepped forward and reached out, wanting to touch the place where the bloodstain was.

"Teacher, are you hurt? Let me see!"

The moment her hand touched him, Qian Xunji caught her wrist.

Bibi Dong's body stiffened. She looked up and met Qian Xunji's deep eyes.

"Are you worried about me?"

"I-I-I..." Asked so directly and watched from so close, Bibi Dong instantly forgot her earlier worry.

"N-no. I was merely... merely concerned as a disciple should be, seeing that Teacher might be injured."

At the same time, Ling Yuan, hiding behind the changing room door with only half her head peeking out, covered her mouth in excitement and screamed inwardly, Wow, wow, wow! He grabbed her wrist, they're staring at each other! She's blushing! His Holiness the Pope is so good at this!

Seeing Bibi Dong's flustered denial, Qian Xunji felt an impulse to tease her.

He released her hand, then casually raised his own and flicked her forehead with a bent finger.

"Ow!" Bibi Dong covered her forehead and looked at him, aggrieved and confused.

"I won't tease you anymore."

"I'm not injured. Earlier, I sensed traces of Evil Soul Master activity in the city, so I went to investigate and dealt with an idiot who did not know his place."

"I must have accidentally gotten this blood on my clothes. Did I scare you?"

Hearing that her teacher was unharmed, Bibi Dong's suspended heart finally settled.

As for an Evil Soul Master? As the Pope, it was her teacher's duty to eliminate Evil Specters. She did not doubt him in the slightest.

"I see... It's good that Teacher wasn't hurt."

Seeing her adorable, slightly foolish reaction, Qian Xunji's heart softened. He could not help reaching out again to pinch her cheek.

"Mmph!"

Bibi Dong's body stiffened again, and her eyes widened.

Her cheek felt so good that Qian Xunji restrained himself, giving it only one pinch before letting go.

"I'm going upstairs to rest first. You should sleep early too. Didn't you want to visit the Lantern Festival the day after tomorrow?"

"Mm. Good night, Teacher."

Qian Xunji smiled at her, then turned and walked toward the stairs.

Even after he had completely disappeared from view, Bibi Dong remained standing where she was.

"Hehehe..."

A low giggle came from beside her.

Startled, Bibi Dong turned and saw that Ling Yuan had slipped out at some point. Leaning close to her ear, Ling Yuan whispered, "His Holiness the Pope... is so good at flirting~ Grabbing wrists and pinching cheeks."